solecism
/ˈsɑləsɪzəm/noun
solecism is spelled S-O-L-E-C-I-S-M: 8 letters. It appears about once in every 74 million words in written English, the 272,462nd most frequent word form (wordfreq, 2021 data). As a noun, solecism means “An error or improper usage” (English Wiktionary, September 2026). The plural of solecism is solecisms.
How many letters and syllables are in solecism?
| Letters | 8: S-O-L-E-C-I-S-M |
|---|---|
| In writing | about once in every 74 million words; the 272,462nd most frequent word form |
| Wrong spellings searched | none measured in search |
Sources: letters and syllables from the English Wiktionary's hyphenation or pronunciation; written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How common is solecism?
Solecism appears about once in every 74 million words in written English, the 272,462nd most frequent word form in the list.
Source: written frequency: wordfreq 3.1 (a 2021 snapshot of Wikipedia, subtitles, news, books, web text and social media).
How do you pronounce solecism?
- UK /ˈsɒlɪsɪzəm/
- US /ˈsɑləsɪzəm/
- US /ˈsoʊlɪsɪzəm/
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Recordings: En-us-solecism.ogg, En-us-solecism2.ogg, Wikimedia Commons (author and licence on each file's page).
Forms of solecism
- solecisms plural
- soloecism
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
What does solecism mean?
The meanings the English Wiktionary records, quoted as written there (source below).
noun
- 1
An error or improper usage.
- 2
An error in the use of language.
- 3
A faux pas or breach of etiquette; a transgression against the norms of expected behavior.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).
Solecism in Spanish, French, German and Portuguese
In the sense error in the use of language:
| Language | Words |
|---|---|
| French | solécisme |
| German | Solözismus, Sprachschnitzer, Sprachsünde |
| Portuguese | solecismo, cacologia |
| Spanish | solecismo |
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract). Translations are Wiktionary's, by sense; a linked word has its own PlainSpell page.
Where does solecism come from?
Borrowed from Middle French solecisme, soloëcisme (French solécisme) or its etymon Latin soloecismus, from Ancient Greek σολοικισμός (soloikismós), from σόλοικος (sóloikos, “speaking incorrectly”), from Σόλοι (Sóloi), an ancient Athenian colony in Cilicia whose inhabitants spoke a dialect regarded by Athenians as a corrupted and barbarous form of Attic Greek. Compare Atticism.
Source: English Wiktionary, dump of September 2, 2026 (CC BY-SA 4.0), through kaikki.org (Wiktextract).